UNICEF Regional Director: We will continue to support Moldovan Government to protect the most vulnerable children

CHISINAU, Moldova, 16 May 2012 – The UNICEF Regional Director's visit from 13-15 May 2012 took place within the development of a new UNICEF Country Programme for the Republic of Moldova Government for the years 2013-2017. The new programme will continue the efforts to protect and promote children’s rights, paying special attention to the most vulnerable children.

Ms Poirier also visited the inclusive kindergarten #12 in the town of Orhei as well as a family with two children in Pohorniceni village, Orhei region. During these visits, Ms Poirier was informed on integrating children with disabilities into general kindergartens and schools and on the way the local specialists are working to protect the most vulnerable families with children.

According to the UNICEF Regional Director, disparities affect many families and children, so that a key priority for UNICEF, both globally and regionally, is to address these differences. In this way, UNICEF will focus on the exchange of experience between countries and the opportunities to learn from each other in order to reach maximum results for children.

"The Republic of Moldova has many positive experiences that worth to be shared with other countries. Considerable progress was achieved in children’s deinstitutionalization and their reintegration in families and communities, justice for children, inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream schools, as well as costing social policies for children. All these achievements positively changed the life of thousands of children”, Marie-Pierre Poirier stated, ensuring that”UNICEF is here to support the Government so that the reforms for children will continue with the same intensity and no child will be excluded in Moldova”.

Beginning with 2012, Marie-Pierre Poirier is the new Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe and CEE/CIS. The visit in the Republic of Moldova was preceded by a visit in Bulgaria and continues in Romania.